Slot machine and method of use

ABSTRACT

A slot machine and method of conducting a wagering game is disclosed. The slot machine incorporates a topper having a display unit corresponding to each primary game reel. Depending on its current state, the display units turn on and turn off in response to pre-established game indicia aligning along a payline. A payout is awarded when all the display units are turned on simultaneously after a game play.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention relate to an electronic gamingdevice in the form of a slot machine. More particularly, the embodimentsinclude a slot machine incorporating a topper comprising a display unitcorresponding to each reel of the slot machine wherein the display unitsare activated in response to primary game reel outcomes to determine abonus award.

BACKGROUND

Electronic gaming devices, like slot machines, now account for over 60%of gaming revenue in casinos. Accordingly, new slot machine concepts arein increasing demand to satisfy the gaming public. Recent slot machineadvances include large progressive jackpots, video graphics and bonusgames and all have been successful.

In particular, bonus games are now associated with a majority of theslot machines in the marketplace. For example, the Wheel of Fortune slotmachine includes a bonus game in the form of a numbered mechanicalwheel. The bonus game, namely the wheel, is activated in response topre-established primary game outcomes. Other bonus games comprisevideo-implemented games, ball-hoppers and player-selected outcomes.

Even though there has been an influx of new slot machines and bonusgames, the new concepts and features are of a common theme and do notadd to the overall excitement level of play of slot machines.

Thus, there is a need for new and exciting slot machine concepts.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, a first embodiment of the present invention comprises amethod of conducting a wagering game comprising accepting a playerwager; providing means for a player to activate a series of game reels,said game reels depicting game indicia; providing a display unitcorresponding to each game reel; depending on its current state causingsaid display units to turn on or turn off in response to pre-establishedgame indicia aligning along a payline; and in response to all displayunits being turned on simultaneously at the conclusion of a game play,paying a player a corresponding award.

In one embodiment, each game reel has at least one 7 symbol thereon andthe display units each depict a 7 symbol when on and a blank when off.When a 7 symbol aligns along the payline, if it was off, thecorresponding display turns on, and if it was on, it turns off. If alldisplay units are on simultaneously at the conclusion of a game playsuch that all display units show a 7 symbol, the player wins a bonus.

Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention willbecome evident from the following detailed description, drawings andclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a slot machine of a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 shows a slot machine of a first embodiment with bonus displayunits facilitated by a single elongated piece of topper glass or singlevideo display;

FIG. 3 shows a slot machine of a first embodiment with bonus displayunits facilitated by a series of topper glass members or individualvideo displays;

FIGS. 4 a-c show the slot machine of FIG. 1 with primary game outcomescausing the display units of the topper to activate; and

FIGS. 5 a-d show the slot machine of FIG. 1 with alternative primarygame outcomes causing the display units of the topper to activate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The operation of slot machines is controlled by microprocessors whichcommunicate with internal memory devices and the external features ofthe machines. The microprocessors also incorporate, or communicate with,a random number generator which ensures the randomness of the machines'outcomes. In the embodiments of the present invention, one or moreprocessors, along with memory and related devices, control the newapplications disclosed herein. Therefore, the embodiments, along withthe corresponding odds, of the present invention may be programmed intothe processor or associated software. Since the technology for operatingand controlling slot machines is well known to those skilled in the art,the subtle details are not described herein.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles inaccordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference willnow be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specificlanguage will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless beunderstood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is therebyintended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventivefeature illustrated herein, and any additional applications of theprinciples of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normallyoccur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of thisdisclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the inventionclaimed.

Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred toby like numerals throughout. FIG. 1 illustrates a slot machine forfacilitating a first game embodiment of the present invention generallyreferred to by reference numeral 100. The slot machine 100 includesthree game reels 105-1 through 105-3, depicting game indicia 125 andwhich may be mechanical or video, and a payline 110. While three gamereels 105-1 through 105-3 are shown, the number may be more or less. Theslot machine 100 further includes interface buttons, including a onecoin/unit wager button 115, maximum coins/units button 120, spin button130 and cash out button 140. The machine 100 also includes a coin input150, card reader 160, credit display 170 and a slot arm 180. Optionally,the machine 100 may incorporate a currency and coupon reader.

The slot machine 100 includes a topper 200 with three display units210-1 through 210-3 corresponding to each game reel 105-1 through 105-3.The three display units 210-1 through 210-3 may either be facilitated bybacklit graphics or video means. With backlit graphics, the displayunits may comprise three symbols (e.g., 7 symbols) depicted on a singleelongated piece of topper glass with illumination sources positionedbehind the topper glass. With video means, a single video display issectioned into three areas corresponding to each display unit. FIG. 2shows a slot machine 100′ including a single topper glass or videodisplay 220. As shown in FIG. 3, the display units 210-1 through 210-3may also be facilitated by individual topper glass members or videodisplay units 230-1 through 230-3.

The display units 210-1 through 210-3 are activated in response topre-determined gaming indicia aligning along the payline 110.Accordingly, in one embodiment game reels 105-1, 105-2 and 105-3correspond to display units 210-1, 210-2 and 210-3, respectively. Thus,display unit 210-1 is controlled by the outcome of game reel 105-1,display unit 210-2 is controlled by game reel 105-2 and display unit210-3 is controlled by game reel 105-3. FIGS. 4 a-c illustrate theoperation of the display units 210-1 through 210-3. In response to a 7symbol aligning along reel 105-1, the corresponding display unit 210-1turns on or turns off depending on its current state. That is, if thedisplay unit is off, it turns on to show a 7 symbol, if it is on, itturns off such that the 7 symbol is no longer highlighted or visible. InFIG. 4 a, in response to the 7 symbol 125-1 of game reel 105-1 aligningalong payline 110, the display unit 210-1 turns on (shown in black)since it was previously off. Display units 210-2 and 210-3 are off(shown in white). In FIG. 4 b, the primary game outcome shows three 7symbols 125-1 through 125-3 depicted on game reels 105-1 through 105-3aligned along payline 110. Accordingly, corresponding display unit 210-1turns off and display units 210-2 and 210-3 turn on. In FIG. 4 c, gamereel 105-1 depicts a 7 symbol 125-1 aligned along payline 110 causingcorresponding display unit 210-1 to turn on. Consequently, all threedisplay units 210-1 through 210-3 are turned on resulting in a bonusaward. That is, in response to all display units 210-1 through 210-3being on (e.g., illuminated), the player wins a corresponding bonusaward. With backlit graphics, the display units 210-1 through 210-3 areturned on by being illuminated by a light source behind the singletopper glass member or the individual topper glass members. With videodisplays, the displays may display a 7 symbol when they are on andnothing when they are off.

The frequency, timing and order of the 7 symbols aligning along thepayline 110 are controlled by the processor of the slot machine 100. Theamount of the bonus award may be fixed (e.g., 10,000 credits) or may bea progressive award that increases until it is won. The progressiveaward may be based on the single machine, a bank of machines or anetwork of linked machines from multiple casino properties. To beeligible for the bonus award, the player may be requited to play maxcoins or units. The embodiments of the present invention may also befacilitated over a computer network, like the Internet.

As shown above, game reel 105-1, 105-2 and 105-3 corresponds to displayunits 210-1, 210-2 and 210-3, respectively, such that, display unit210-1 is controlled by the outcome of game reel 105-1 and so on.However, it is also conceivable that the different game reels maycontrol different display units. For example, game reel 105-3 maycontrol display unit 210-1 or the arrangement may be random in nature.

FIGS. 5 a-d illustrate a random embodiment of the present invention. Inthis embodiment, a wild symbol 250-1 depicted on game reel 105-1 andaligned along payline 110 causes a randomly selected display unit toturn on or off. In FIG. 5 a, randomly selected display unit 210-2 isshown illuminated in response to wild symbol 250-1 aligning alongpayline 110. In FIG. 5 b, randomly selected display unit 210-1 is shownilluminated in response to wild symbol 250-2 aligning along payline 110.In FIG. 5 c, randomly selected display unit 210-2 is shown in a turnedoff position in response to random symbol 250-1 aligning along payline110. In FIG. 5 d, randomly selected display units 210-2 and 210-3 areshown illuminated in response to random symbols 250-1 and 250-2 aligningalong payline 110. Consequently, all three display units 210-1 through210-3 are turned on resulting in a bonus award. While the display nits210-1 through 210-3 appear to be randomly selected, the processorcontinues to control the frequency and timing with which bonus awardsare won. That is, the randomness is for the benefit of the players whilethe game is specifically programmed to theoretically award bonus awardsonly so often.

The wild symbol may also cause the display units 210-1 through 210-3 toilluminate in a random, frenzied manner until one display unit 210-1through 210-3 illuminates or turns off.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference toseveral embodiments, additional variations and modifications existwithin the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined inthe following claims.

1. A method of conducting a wagering game comprising: accepting a playerwager; providing means for a player to activate a series of game reelson a single game device, said game reels depicting game indicia;providing a display unit on said single game device wherein said displayunit depicts a static game indicia icon corresponding to each game reelin the series of game reels; depending on a current state causing saidgame indicia icon on said display unit to turn on or turn off inresponse to pre-established game indicia aligning along a payline on acorresponding game reel as follows: turning on a game indicia iconresponsive to a said pre-established game indicia aligning along apayline on a corresponding game reel; turning off a game indicia iconresponsive to a said pre-established game indicia aligning along apayline on a corresponding game reel; and maintaining said game indiciaicon turned on or turned off until a next occurrence of saidpre-established game indicia aligning along a payline on saidcorresponding game reel at which time the game indicia again changesstate; and in response to all game indicia icons being in apre-determined state at the conclusion of a game play, paying a playeran award corresponding thereto.
 2. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising providing display units facilitated by backlit graphics. 3.The method of claim 1 further comprising providing display unitsfacilitated by video screens or monitors.
 4. The method of claim furthercomprising turning on a game indicia icon if it is off or turning off adisplay unit if it is on in response to the pre-established game indiciaaligning along the payline.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprisingproviding three game reels and three depicted game indicia icon on saiddisplay unit.
 6. A method of conducting a wagering game comprising:accepting a player wager on a primary game; providing means for a playerto activate a series of game reels on a single game device, said gamereels depicting game indicia; providing multiple bonus display units onsaid single game device wherein each bonus display unit depicts a staticgame indicia icon, each of said bonus display units corresponding to agame reel in the series of game reels; causing each of said displayunits to turn on or turn off in response to pre-established game indiciaof a corresponding reel aligning along a payline such that turned ondisplay units turn off in response to a said pre-established gameindicia of a corresponding reel aligning along a payline, and turned offdisplay units turn on in response to a said pre-established game indiciaof a corresponding reel aligning along a payline, each of said displayunits remaining turned on or turned off until a next occurrence of saidpre-established game indicia of a corresponding reel aligning along apayline; and in response to all display units being in a pre-determinedstate at the conclusion of a game play, paying a player a correspondingaward corresponding thereto.
 7. The method of claim 6 further comprisingturning on a display unit by illuminating the display.
 8. The method ofclaim 6 further comprising providing display units facilitated by videoscreen or monitors.
 9. A slot machine comprising: a processor havingmemory storing one or more executable programs; a series of game reelsdepicting game indicia; a topper comprising a display unit wherein saiddisplay unit depicts a game indicia icon corresponding to each gamereel; wherein in response to pre-established game indicia aligning alonga payline on a game reel, said one or more executable programs causing acorresponding game indicia icon depicted on said display unit, dependingon a current state, to turn on or turn off, such that: turning on a gameindicia icon responsive to a said pre-established game indicia aligningalong a payline on a corresponding game reel; turning off a game indiciaicon responsive to a said pre-established game indicia aligning along apayline on a corresponding game reel; and each of said display unitsremaining turned on or turned off until a next occurrence of saidpre-established game indicia aligning along a payline on a correspondinggame reel; and wherein said processor further causing a payout to beawarded in response to each of said display units being in apre-determined state at the conclusion of a game play.
 10. The slotmachine of claim 9 wherein the display units are facilitated by backlitgraphics.
 11. The slot machine of claim 9 wherein the display units arefacilitated by a video screen or monitor.
 12. The slot machine of claim9 wherein the series of game reels comprise three game reels and threedepicted game indicia icon on said display unit.